Must read book

[pilotyip]

I just got my copy of "Moondog's Academy of the air and other disasters" by Pete Fusco. Pete is an ex-Zantop pilot. He writes of the early days of the air cargo business in Detroit and Miami flying C-46's DC-6's DC-7's. It rates up there with E. Gann's "Faith is the Hunter". I am a great fan of E. Gann and probably have a dozen of his books, so to rate Fusco with Gann is a prety strong endorsement. It talks of his days of breaking into aviation, interviews, lay offs, great pilots, bad bosses and moments of screaming terror. The book would really be great for newbie's thinking of entering the pilot career field. He says in the opening of the book it is dedicated to: "Pilots yet unborn, destined to inherit an aviation world sanitized of all fun by Corporate and Federal memo fairies. They should know that there was a time when pilots who took themselves seriously were a hated minority. To the Professional pilot hopefuls who see flying lessons as a ticket to the easy street. For them this book is intended as a primer, a sobering glimpse into career prospects at the hands of unsympathic, manipulative employers and the aforementioned mischievous gods of powered flight. Many cautions are included at no additional charge."
The book is available at Amazon.com.
What really made this book for me is a character in the book "Firecan Haddock" He is real guy, a WWII P-47 pilot, and the man who taught me to fly at YIP back in 1965 before I went into the Navy.

 

[Cardinal]

Sold.

 

[Geronimo]

I read this books several month's ago and have to tell you it is now one of my all time favorites. I was laughing hysterically through the entire book. Go out and get this book now, you will enjoy it.

 

[mar]

I've been looking for a new read

Thanks Pilotyip--I'll look for it too.

 

[jumppilot]

Anyone heard of a book series called "Air Disasters"? It is a VERY good book which highlights all the air disaters of the modern era, and gives a detailed description, along with pictures and anecdotes, of what caused it.

VERY GOOD READ.

 

[RUhiring?]

another sale....thanks for the tip

here is the Amazon link

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...70945/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/104-4417152-5942347

 

[mar]

Thumbs up for "Air Disasters"

I read Air Disasters when I was preparing to teach a CRM class. Great book.

Two thumbs up. Way up!

 

[jumppilot]

another sale....thanks for the tip

here is the Amazon link

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...70945/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/104-4417152-5942347

Not the same book, but I'm sure it is a good read.

 

[Birdstrike]

While we're at it, I'll add "View From The Cockpit" by Len Morgan as one of my most favorite aviation books. Morgan began flying transports for the Canadian Air Force in WWII and eventually joined Braniff before retiring there as a 747 Captain just prior to their bankruptcy. Morgan was also a columnist for many years with FLYING magazine. He is a gifted writer and any pilot will find his career observations and recollections in this book well worth reading.

 

[skyboat]

Another fantastic book, "North Star Over My Shoulder" by Bob Buck (also wrote a well known book called "Aviation Weather") He went to work for what became TWA in 1938 on DC-2's and retired in mid to late 70's off of the 747. The book is about his career in aviation and the flying lifestyle. While I do not think he is as prolific as Ernest K. Gann, he is an indiuvidual who stayed in aviation his whole life and did not come and go as Gann did. He has many interesting observations about the "glory" days of aviation and comparing it to today (his son is a DAL pilot, so he has a modern perspective).

Definately worth a read.

 

[UALX727]

Actually, I believe the correct name of the Earnest K. Gann book is "Fate is the Hunter"... Just in case anyone was trying to find it on Amazon. I have read it as well and it kicks butt, especially the chapter titled, "Ice".

 

[dmspilot00]

Is that "Air Disasters" or "Air Disaster"? If you (the people that recommended it) have an ISBN or an amazon.com link please post it. Thanks.

 

[KigAir]

Airman's Odyssey

Has anybody read Antoine De Saint-Exupery's Airman's Odyssey?

 

[Geronimo]

Another fantastic book, "North Star Over My Shoulder" by Bob Buck (also wrote a well known book called "Aviation Weather") He went to work for what became TWA in 1938 on DC-2's and retired in mid to late 70's off of the 747. The book is about his career in aviation and the flying lifestyle. While I do not think he is as prolific as Ernest K. Gann, he is an indiuvidual who stayed in aviation his whole life and did not come and go as Gann did. He has many interesting observations about the "glory" days of aviation and comparing it to today (his son is a DAL pilot, so he has a modern perspective).

Definately worth a read.

Good to hear that skyboat. I just bought this book off Barnes and Nobles last week. I have not started reading it yet, but am looking forward to it.

 

[bobbysamd]

I just got my copy of "Moondog's Academy of the air and other disasters" by Pete Fusco . . . .

Great book review, Yip. I just ordered a copy, too.

 

[Cardinal]

Is that "Air Disasters" or "Air Disaster"? If you (the people that recommended it) have an ISBN or an amazon.com link please post it. Thanks.

This is what they're talking about, Air Disaster, singular, volumes 1 through at least 4. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1875671196/
By Macarthur Job.

 

[woody]

moondog academy

I havent read the book yet but I understand that a good portion is based on working at Zantop. I worked at Zantop for about a year and a half and it was by far the most fun I ever had working anywhere. The quote at the bottom of my reply is a real life Zantop quote.

 

[jumppilot]

This is what they're talking about, Air Disaster, singular, volumes 1 through at least 4. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1875671196/
By Macarthur Job.

Yep! That's it...DÁMN GOOD BOOK! I highly recommend it.

 

[TurboS7]

You guys read good books. When you start flying a route or aircraft that they did you knock the dust off and read it again. Great stuff.

 

[Typhoon1244]

Moondog's Academy of the Air... sounds great. I'll look into it.

If you enjoyed Fate is the Hunter, you'll like Ernest Gann's Flying Circus, too. Covers some parts of aviation history you probably haven't read about before.

Also, Robert Serling's novel The Left Seat is a must for anyone interested in the DC-3-to-DC-7 days.